León 2000 IMF

Kiva conducts regular, ongoing monitoring of all Field Partners, but only posts status updates here in response to relevant, major changes at the partner.

Company Profile

Fundacíon León began operations in 1993 as the first microfinance institution to serve the western part of Nicaragua. Fundacíon León 2000 works to further the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises through credit services and management, applying the best credit industry practices and technical expertise. As of September 2011, Fundacíon León 2000 employs 92 dedicated people working in 8 offices in León, Chinandega, Chichigalpa, Somotillo, Jinotepe, El Sauce, Managua and Nagarote, and serves more than 5,000 borrowers (almost 70% of whom are women).

Additionally, the Mix Market recognized Fundacíon León 2000 awarding it 5-Stars, in recognition of the overall transparency, quality, and reliability of the institution’s process and information.

Social Programs

Fundacíon León 2000 has the unique aspect of having a social programs department within its walls. Run by five powerhouse women, the social programs department is constantly seeking grants to develop educational and entrepreneurial capacities in and around León.

Fundacíon León 2000 received an Academic Excellence grant from USAID for a two year project to institute new teaching methodologies in Nicaraguan schools. The program will also include increasing classroom resources for teachers and establishing parent-teacher committees and student body organizations.

Another program, sponsored by a joint grant from International Youth Foundation and ARGIDIUS, is skills training program for young persons. 200-300 young persons between the ages of 20-30, will enroll in a multidimensional skills development program. Participants will either follow the entrepreneurial track or the vocational track. Those in the entrepreneurial track will develop business plans to be approved and funded by committee, they will be eligible for special loans as seed money for their business. Those in the vocational track will have internships and 40% will be guaranteed jobs upon completion of the program.

Two annual social programs are the Merry Christmas program, which provides toys to children living in extreme poverty, and Sponsor a Child, aimed at 12 study centers in areas of extreme poverty in the western part of the country. With the help of people who share our motto, "with your help, I can change my life," Fundacíon León aims to provide a supportive education for children in Nicaragua.

Please explore our institution and engage more dutifully with our motto, "Financing with Social Responsibility.”

León, Nicaragua at a glance

León is considered to be the intellectual center of Nicaragua, known as the University City. It is also the birth place of national poet and “The Prince of Castilian Letters,” Rubén Darío. León Viejo was established in 1524 by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, but the city was razed in 1610 when the Momotombo Volcano erupted. UNESCO declared León Viejo a World Heritage Site in 2000, located 30 kilometers from the city’s current location.

León is the second largest city in Nicaragua with a population of 175,000. It is located in the volcanic lowlands of the country, 20 kilometers from the Pacific coast. It hosts gorgeous beaches and six of Nicaragua’s active volcanoes.

Through a combination of international aid, debt forgiveness and increased exports, Nicaragua is stabilizing its economic policies. The economy of Nicaragua has made significant progress since the Contra War in the 1980s and the devastation of Hurricane Mitch. However, Nicaragua notoriously remains the second poorest country in the Western hemisphere.

Update from Kiva Staff on July 7, 2011:

In recent years, the "No Pago" movement (a movement for non-repayment of loans) has created concern around the increased risk of loan non-repayment by Kiva borrowers in Nicaragua. As a result, last year Kiva posted a loan alert on Nicaraguan loans, warning lenders about the potential risks of lending to entrepreneurs in Nicaragua. Earlier this month though, the government passed a new microfinance law that has addressed many of these concerns. As a result, the situation appears to have resolved itself and the "No Pago" loan alert is being removed.

We will update this page if there is any additional information available.

Update from Kiva Staff on July 19, 2010:

In order to help you better understand the potential risks of lending to entrepreneurs in Nicaragua, Kiva continues to provide information on the “No Pago” movement (a movement for non-repayment of loans).

The momentum behind the No Pago movement appears to have largely dissipated, as a result of the National Assembly's passage of a law in April 2010. This new law allows delinquent borrowers (as of June 2009) to re-negotiate loans with more favorable interest and terms. Borrowers who were part of the No Pago movement were required to approach MFIs to re-negotiate their loans by May 12th of this year. While many borrowers did approach MFIs to re-negotiate their loans, it still only accounted for a small percentage of the members of the No Pago movement.

For Kiva lenders who previously lent to Nicaraguan borrowers:

If your loan had default coverage, then even if your loan was affected, the MFI will cover your loan for the full amount.

If your loan did not have default coverage by the MFI: If the borrower you lent to did not approach their MFI before May 12th, their loan cannot be re-negotiated under the terms of the No Pago movement resolution. Kiva is working closely with its Field Partners in Nicaragua to see if any Kiva clients have re-negotiated their loan under this law and will message to lenders accordingly.

For Kiva lenders considering making new loans in Nicaragua: it seems that as a result of the passage of this law and since the term for re-negotiation has passed, the microfinance situation is calmer in Nicaragua than previously. Kiva will continue to update the Kiva lender community if the situation changes significantly.

Special notice on Fundacion Leon 2000 from Kiva Staff on June 18, 2010:

Kiva recently conducted on-site monitoring at Fundacion Leon 2000 in order to re-assess the level of risk posed by this institution. The analysts found that some of the components that Kiva looks at during our due diligence process did not merit a 5-STAR rating and adjusted the rating to 4.

Other Information Sources

León 2000 IMF's Mission Statement

We further the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises through credit services and management, applying the best credit industry practices and technical expertise.

Why Kiva Works With León 2000 IMF

Nicaragua is a market that is saturated with microfinance institutions and other non-traditional financial service providers. We have seen problems of over-indebtedness in this market, so it is critical for Kiva to work with responsible lenders who look beyond the markets already being served. Kiva chose to work with Fundacion Leon 2000 because they fit in these categories. Fundacion Leon is very focused on social performance, not just providing loans. In addition to just credit, Fundacion Leon offers non-financial services as well. Currently, the non-financial services department has been focusing on a youth entrepreneurship and job placement program. In the first program, they train youth to develop their own business and then provide seed capital. In the second, they provide job training and work with local organizations to find employment for their students. Kiva's funds allow Fundacion Leon 2000 to continue reaching more borrowers and providing these additional services to them.